Automatic starter control



' March 31,1936.

P. H. MAURER 2,035,820

AUTOMATIC STARTER CONTROL Filed April 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEzVTOl? WWW Amt/166$ BY M 1/ March 31, 1936. r R H MAURER 2,035,820

AUTOMATIC STARTER CONTROL Filed April 26, 1934 2 SheetsSheet 2 E] 0 f? fi m-n mu 5 4'7 pmwmnmep dams/S'- bY/ WW.W

Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC STARTER CONTROL of New York Application April 26, 1934, Serial No. 722,440

8 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic starter control for internal combustion engines and more particularly to a device for actuating the starting mechanism upon closure of the ignition switch of the engine and for automatically reactuating the same in case of engine stall.

In devices of this character of the type in which the starter gearing is automatically disconnected when the engine starts, it has been found desirable to provide some form of time delay to prevent immediate reactuation of the starting mechanism in case of a false start in order to permit the starting motor to come substantially to rest before reclosure of the starting switch.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel automatic starter control which is effective and reliable in operation and simple and economical in construction.

It is another object to provide such a device which incorporates a time delay to retard the reactuation of the starting mechanism.

It is a further object to provide such a device which in case of a false start of the engine pre- 5 vents reclosure of the starting switch while the starting motor is spinning.

It is another object to provide such a device which embodies a relay actuated by the counter V E. M. F. of the spinning starting motor to hold open the starting switch.

It is a further object to provide such a device in which the motor spin hold-out relay is protected from overloading by battery voltage.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration 'of one preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment of the invention;

' Fig. 3 is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is substantially a mid-sectional view of a preferred form of magnetic starting switch and control relay especially adapted for use in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. l, the section being taken substantially on v the line 44 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a similar view, the section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 68 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail partly in section taken substantially on the line 1--1 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a detail partly in section of one preferred form of relay especially adapted for use in that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is 6 illustrated a starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine, not illustrated, comprising a starting circuit including a battery I grounded at 2 and connected by a lead 3 to a magnetic starting switch 4 which in turn is connected by 10 a lead 5 to the starting motor SM which is grounded at 6. A control circuit for the magnetic starting switch 4 is provided comprising a manual switch I, which is preferably the ignition switch of the engine, connected by a lead 8 15 to the battery lead 3 and by a lead 9 to circuit controlling means in the form of contacts ll, l2 of a control relay 13. Contact !2 is mounted on a swinging armature l4 which is connected by a lead l5 to the solenoid 15 of the magnetic start- 20 ing switch 4, which solenoid is in turn connected by a lead I! to one brush l8 of engine driven generator G, the opposite brush of which [9 is grounded as indicated at 2!.

The field 22 of the generator is preferably 2 separately excited from the battery I by means of a lead 23 connecting the same to the manual switch 1.

Armature I4 is normally biased in position to close contacts ll, l2 by suitable means such as 30 a spring 24, and actuating means in the form of a solenoid 25 is provided for opening contacts H, l2 responsive to current generated by the starting motor SM when the armature thereof is idly spinning. For this purpose the solenoid 35 25 is connected by a lead 26 to a spring mounted contact 21 which normally engages the contact 28 of the starting switch 4 which is connected by the lead 5 to the starting motor, the opposite end of the solenoid 25 being grounded 40 ,at 29 to complete the circuit of relay l3.

Means energized by closure of the starting switch 4 are provided for disconnecting the solenoid 25 from the starting circuit. As here shown this disconnecting means is in the form of a 45 plunger 3! of insulating material resting on the plunger 32 of the starting switch in such position that closure of the starting switch causes the plunger 3| to move contact 21 out of engagement with the switch contact 28. 50

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention starting with the parts in the positions illustrated, closure of the ignition switch 1 completes the control circuit through solenoid [6 of the magnetic starting switch 4 and at the same 55 l time causes excitation of the field 22 of generator G. Since the armature of generator G is at this time stationary, the generator forms a good ground connection for the control circuit causing the-magnetic starting switch to close and initiate cranking. During the closing movement of the starting switch, the plunger 3| moves contact 21 away from contact 28 thus breaking the circuit of relay l3 whereby contacts I I, I2 remain closed.

When the engine starts, the consequent acceleration of the generator G causes it to generate a Voltage opposing the flow of current through the control circuit thereby deenergizing the control circuit including the magnetic starting switch and permitting the same to open. It will be understood that the engine speed at which this action takes place may readily be determined. by proper adjustment of the starting switch, this regulation being greatly facilitated by the fact that since the generator is separately excited, the voltage produced thereby is substantially directly proportional to the rotational speed of the generator until such time as the voltage of the generator approaches that of the battery.

When the starting switch 4 opens in response to self-operation of the engine, contacts 27, 28

are permitted to close and the current generated by the starting motor while its armature is spinning by momentum is conducted by lead 26 to the relay l3 whereby contacts H, l2 are opened and are held open to maintain the control circuit inoperative until the starting motor comes substantially to rest. If the engine should give one or two explosions sufiicient to cause the starting switch to open and then should stall, it will be appreciated that the relay l3 functions to delay reclosure of the starting switch until the starting motor has decelerated. It will be understood that this time delay insures reengagement of the starter gearing upon reactuation of the starting motor, and also allows the engine flywheel to come completely to rest before reengagement of the starter gearing.

One preferred form of starting switch 4 and control relay 13 built up as a unit is illustrated "in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. As there shown the starting switch comprises solenoid l3 and plunger 32 carrying contactor 33 which is movable thereby into engagement with the switch elements 28 and 34.

Contact 21 (Fig. 5) is mounted on a spring strip 35 (Fig. 6) in position to normally engage the switch element 28 and is moved out of engagement therewith by the plunger 3| (Fig. 5) when said plunger is pushed down by the contactor 33.

Coil 25 (Fig. 6) of relay I3 is here shown as actuating an armature M which as shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 7 is arranged to engage a leaf spring 36 anchored at 31 to a connector 38 adapted to receive the end of the control circuit lead l5. Contact I2 is mounted on the free end of the spring 36 normally in engagement with contact II which is mounted on a fixed bracket providing a connector 39 adapted to receive the end of the control circuit lead 9.

Plunger 32 of the starting switch is normally maintained in its upper position by suitable means such as a spring ll and is moved into engagement with a fixed pole piece 42 upon energization of solenoid l6. Contactor 33 is preferably connected to plunger 32 by yieldable means such as a spring 43 and in its downward movement engages plunger 3| which is slidably mounted in the switch element 28, thus opening contacts 2?, 28 as above set forth.

In Fig. 2 a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated which is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that electrical means are pro- 7 vided in the form of a current contrclled relay for opening the circuit of the relay l3 instead of the mechanical connection to the starting switch illustrated in Fig. 1. As here shown this starting current relay comprises a single turn coil 53 arranged to attract an armature 34 which carries the contact 2? and which is normally held by means such as a spring 55 in position to cause contact 27 to engage fixed contact 28'. The strength of the spring 35 is so related to the magnetic effect of the single turn coil 43 that armature M will be attracted by the heavy current traversing thecoil t3 during cralnking whereby contacts 21', 28 are held open. The relay i3 is thus disconnected from the starting motor during the cranking operation and is protected from overloading by battery voltage as in the embodiment previously described.

When the engine starts, the release of the cranking load on the starting motor causes a reduction in current traversing the relay coil 43 which becomes sufficiently weakened to permit contacts 27, 28 to close. If, for any reason the generator should not cause the starting switch 4 to open prior to closure of the contacts 2?, 28, the momentary flow of battery current through the relay coil 25 instantly opens contacts H, l2 whereby the control circuit is broken and the starting switch caused to open. The relay i3 is then connected to the starting motor but not to the battery and performs its time delay function in the .manner previously described.

Since in this embodiment of the invention closure of the starting switch 4% connects the coil 25 of relay l3 to the battery I at the time that cranking is initiated, it is desirable that contacts 2'5, 23 be opened by the cranking current traversing the single turn coil :33 prior to the opening of contacts ll, 42 of relay l3, 4

since otherwise a chattering of the starting switch would result. Obviously the inherent characteristics of the coils es and 25 are such that the self-inductance of the coil 25 is greater than that of the coil 33 and the coil 25 is therefore less rapid in its action. In order to insure that the relay l3 does not act too quickly, however, it has been found desirable to provide means for delaying the action thereof. 7

As here illustrated this means is in the form of a member @6 of magnetic material attached to the frame 4'! of the relay [3 and extending into proximity to the free end of the core 38 of said relay, thus forming a magnetic shunt for the flux traversing said core.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the magnetic shunt member 46 is arranged to surround the end of the core 48 with a space therebetween somewhat less than the air gap #39 between the armature M of the relay and the end of the pole piece. This space between the magnetic shunt member and the pole piece is preferably filled by a spacing element 5i of suitable nonmagnetic material such as brass.

til

0 In the operation of this relay, the flux caused 7 ture 14 is therefore not strongly attracted until the flux in the core 48 has built up sufliciently to saturate the magnetic shunt, whereafter the flux traverses the air gap 49 and causes the armature [4 to be pulled down against the end of the core 48. After this occurs, the magnetic circuit through the armature M has much less reluctance than the magnetic shunt circuit so that substantially all the flux traverses the armature 14' whereby said armature will be held against the core 48 until said core is completely deenergized.

In order to permit a slight closing motion of the armature l4 without opening contacts ll, 12, contact 12 is in this embodiment of the invention preferably mounted on a leaf spring 52 (Fig. 2) which extends into the path of a block of insulation 53 mounted on the end of the armature I4, the spring 52 being normally separated from the end of said armature by a space 54 permitting initial movement of the armature without engaging the spring 52.

In Fig. 3 the invention is illustrated as applied to a starter control utilizing the functioning of the ignition mechanism of the engine to control the starting operation. As here shown the starting circuit is the same as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the elements are similarly numbered. The control relay 56 for the magnetic starting switch 4, however, is an alternating current relay actuated by current from the secondary 51 of a transformer 58, the primary 59 of which is supplied with pulsating current during the operation of the engine by virtue of being connected in parallel with the primary 6| of the ignition coil 62.

Relay 56 in addition to its alternating current coil 63 is provided with a solenoid 65 corresponding to the coil 25 of relay l3 in Figs. 1 and 2 and connected by the lead 26 to the contact 21 as described in Fig. 1.

Either or both of the coils 63 and 65, when sufficiently energized, are arranged to attract an armature 65 carrying a contact 61 which is normally in engagement with a grounded contact 68 thus forming the ground connection for the lead II of the control circuit. When the ground connection is thus broken by the energization of relay 56, the control circuit is deenergized and the starting switch 4 permitted to open.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention closure of the ignition switch 1 completes the control circuit through the starting switch 4 thus closing the starting switch and initiating the cranking operation. Closure of the starting switch causes plunger 3| to open contacts 21', 23 as above set forth thus breaking the circuit through the relay coil 65. When the engine becomes self-operative, the pulsations of current through the primary 59 of transformer 58 caused by the operation of the breaker points of the ignition mechanism attains sufficient speed to induce an alternating current in the secondary 5'! of said transformer powerful enough to energize the alternating current coil 63 of relay 56 and open contacts 61, 68. The starting switch 4 is thus permitted to open and contacts 21, 28 to close.

Should the engine immediately stall, reclosure of contacts 61, 68 is prevented by the coil 65 which is energized by the counter E. M. F. of the starting motor SM until the starting motor comes substantially to rest.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and that various changes may be made in the design and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In an automatic starter control for internal combustion engines a starting circuit including a battery, a starting motor and a magnetic start ing switch, a control circuit for said starting switch including said battery, an electromagnet for operating said starting switch, a relay having normally closed contacts and a coil normally connected to the starting circuit on the starting motor side of the starting switch, and means for disconnecting said relay coil from the starting circuit when the starting motor is connected to the battery whereby the relay contacts remain closed during cranking, said relay coil being actuated to open said contacts by current generated by the starting motor when spinning idly.

2. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines, a starting circuit including a starting motor and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for said starting switch, means for deenergizing the control circuit when the engine starts and a relay having a pair of contacts in said control circuit and a coil, and means rendered operative by the opening of the starting switch for energizing said coil from current generated by the starting motor when spinning idly, to open said contacts and thereby break the control circuit and hold it open until the starting motor comes substantially to rest.

3. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines a starting circuit including a motor and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for the starting switch including normally closed circuit controlling means, means for holding open said circuit controlling means during idle spinning of the starting motor, and means operated by closure of the starting switch for deenergizing said holding means and thereby maintaining the controlling means closed during the cranking operation.

4. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines a starting circuit including a motor and a starting switch, a control circuit including circuit controlling means, electromagnetic means for holding open said circuit controlling means during idle spinning of the starting motor and a relay operated by cranking current for open-circuiting said electromagnetic holding means.

5. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines a starting circuit including a motor and a starting switch, a control circuit including circuit controlling means, electromagnetic means for holding open said circuit controlling means during idle spinning of the starting motor, a relay operated by cranking current for open-circuiting said electromagnetic holding means, and means for retarding the action of said electromagnetic means.

6. In automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines a starting circuit including a motor and a starting switch, a control circuit including circuit controlling means, electromagnetic means energized from the starting circuit for opening said circuit controlling means, a relay operated by cranking current for open-circuiting said electromagnetic holding means, and means for delaying the opening action of the electromagnetic means.

'7. An automatic starting mechanism for internal combustion engines including a battery, a motor and a magnetic starting switch, a control circuit for the starting switch including normally closed contacts and an engine driven generator arranged to oppose the flow of battery current through the control circuit and thereby cause the starting switch to open when the engine starts, and means actuated by the starting motor for opening said contacts when the starting switch opens and for holding open said contacts during idle spinning of the starting motor.

PAUL H. MAURER. 

